Stars including Jesy Nelson, Michael Sheen and Heaven 17 sign up for huge Sheffield film festival
City the venue for film premieres at high profile film festival
Organisers have announced the line-up for the city’s huge annual documentary film festival, with a string of celebrities set for appearances.
Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, former Coronation Street actress Maxine Peake, actor Michael Sheen, plus actresses Miriam Margolyes, and, Rose Ayling-Ellis will make appearances at this year’s festival, as will the Sheffield band Heaven 17.
They are taking part in the Sheffield DocFest 2026 which returns to Sheffield in June with over 100 screenings of World, European, and UK Premieres.
The festival sees a world premier for James Strong’s film Heaven 17: The Last Temptation, which tells the story of Sheffield synth legends Heaven 17 hitting the road for what might be their final tour, facing up to age loyalty and unfinished business with the past.
Jesy Nelson will be in the city to discuss her biopic which follows her personal story as a mother of twins diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and her fight to change UK newborn screening laws, also premiering in the festival.
And festival guest of honour Maxine Peake will present a curated programme, as a part of which she will perform with her band, The Eccentronic Research Council and present a live reading of her own Queens of the Coal Age with a line-up to be announced about miner's wives.
Across 80 feature films and 24 shorts, there will be first look screenings of films from producers including the BBC, Channel 4, HBO, Netflix, SKY, Universal, Prime Video, Mindhouse, Passion Pictures, Tigerlily and World of Wonder, and more.
There will be screenings at The Showroom, The Light and Curzon cinemas; talks at The Lyceum, The Montgomery, The Crucible Playhouse and Crucible Adelphi; and an Alternate Realities programme at Yorkshire Artspace: Persistence Works.
Mimi Poskitt, managing director, Sheffield DocFest said: “Documentary storytelling has the power to open our eyes to the world and help us make sense of the realities around us which is why Sheffield DocFest, now in its 33rd year, continues to evolve alongside the audiences it serves.”
Ben Luxford, director of UK-wide audiences, at the BFI said: "We’re so pleased to be supporting DocFest with BFI National Lottery funding to deliver an incredible programme for audiences to discover, enjoy, and engage with, and to shine a vital light on Documentary film. Some would say Sheffield is already the centre of the world, and for one week in June, others will agree."
The festival runs from June 10 until June 15. Public tickets are on sale now.